The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-12
Delineation of Odd Fellowship.

Woode to the Rapides Progress Lodge
No. 1926, colored order of Odd Fellow
here, at the City Hall, OH Friday evenin
Sept. 30th 1887, the occasion being til
public installation of the officers Of SAT-
lodge:
Officers, Members, Ladies and Gentlemen
In obedience to the call am before yO,
on this occasion, not to INFINITELY erpres
! to You all the things important belongin;
to this grand order, but merely to define
ate some things bearing OH Odd Fellow
ship.
First let us discuss the origin and ag
Of this order. The exact date of the in
stitution OF this organization is not know
but we are aware that it was known tt
the ancients many years before Christ
Julius Caesar, born one hundred years be
fore Christ, known as the greatest
man OF antiquity, the mar
who conquered 800 nations, took 300 cit
les, defeated 5000, 900 men, was member
Of this fraternity; in those days they
were called Gives" "fellow citizens OF
'odd citizens" and owing to the perfec
tien when this institution had reached al
this early date, and it being fact that
its members ceuld tell each other by night
as we'll as by day, they therefore were
given the name Of Odd Fellows. So, nv
friends. you can see from what has been
said that it is not an institution in EN-.
bryo.
The founder of Odd Fellowship in the
| United States was the venerable Thomas
Wildey, who was born in London, Janu-
airy 10. 1882, emigrated to America July
! 1917, reached Baltimore, there met the
Acquaintance of Jno. Welch. These two
veterans together with three moro Odd
Fellows, making five in the United States.
set up the first lodge, and named it Wash.
ington No. /, in honor of "the father of
his country" This branch of Odd Eel
lows being the same as the original lived.
grew and did well, and for particular rea-
sons a dissolution took place, hence the
branch of Odd Fellows called the Grand
United Order. The original was known
as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The one we represent is the Grand United
Order OF Odd Fellows, and was founded
in 1S43 by Peter Ogden, a man of color
IKE yourselves, who having been initiated
and received all the necessary require
ments in Victoria Lodge, England, sailed
to America, set up Philomethcan Lodge,
G. U. o. of 0. F., IN America, No. GAG in
New York city, at which place she stands
to-day surrounded with majestic vigilance
with her walls of grandeur, towering,
raised emblems, filed with refulgence,
and loudly proclaiming to the world
Friendship, Love and Truth"
Again, whence does this organization
spring and where does it endi Odd Eel
lowshlP spreads her snow-like pinions in
the valleys of sunny England, rises like
the eagle with her eye heavenward, sails
in her paracentric path, fans the billowy
bosom OF the mighty waters, finally reach
es America, rests herself in New York
city, rises again then for second time,
alights here and there bespatting this
continent with more than two thousand
lodges-further sails to the West Indies,
there recognizes the nations, gains their
wins their favor and settles
down, making herself at home, and rever-
berating 20 Old England and America in
tones of metallic gong, ".imioitia, Amor
ct Teritas."
1t is known that every well formed in
stitution has foundation, and that Odd
Fellowship is Fraternity, while her cart,i-
nal points are Friendship, Love and Truth.
1t may be asked what is Friendship
Friendship is not only name which can
easily be given when all Is sunshine and
calm, but OH the contrary that which will
stand the surest test, viz: adyersity,-l
With reference to this grand principle
may appropriately be repeated Scripture.
which says: eff thy brother be waxen
poor and fallen in decay with thee, then
thou shalt relieve him, yea, though hc be
a stranger ard sojourner with thee"
Secondly, what can be said of Love Z
we are taught by Love to feel pent up to
a few, but universal love to mankind
since the Injunction Of the Divine Ruler
TO man is: Glove the Lord, thy God, with
all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and thy neighbor as thyself."
what less can we do than be universal in
'ur love for others. They all have rights
% lay claim on us, and though some are
and not righteous, yet our obi
CATION is, while we hate the sin, still love
'he sinner. Even the convicts in our
ais and prison houses are our fallen
)rothcTs.
The third and last of our important
principles is Truth. Truth is veracity-
faithfulncss. The bright and
beautiful examples recorded of the faith
ul "from Abel who offered more excel
emit sacrifice than Cain'-to the last of
he ancient worthless is brought before
he advancing Odd Fellow, he is called
lpon to initiate them.
Truth we accept as a cardinal virtue.
nd require its practice on the part of ali
he votaries of Odd Fellowship while ira
cling the rugged journey of life in search
f reward and rest.
There are few questions I desire to
sS-they are these: Who, when it be-
ONES brothers lot to he SO unfortunate
8 to be an invalid, to fall into some
hasm unawares, to be caught in trap
ct by some villain unknown to him, who
Or the sole cause, has done this to over
ONE his manhood-lifts him on his feet
nd sends him again upon the world re.
,lclng, man of his former standing ,
he Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.
no is it when brother dies, puts him
eatly away, bears his bereaved widow s
p, feeds the dear children and hears E
iem when they cry' The Grand United :
rder OF Odd Fellows. Who is it when :
rother is destitute of relatives and home. !
III find brothers for him and give him a /
torever' The Grand United Or |
'r of Odd Fellows.
Following this Grand Army, so stats.
cs say are nearly So, 900 sable skins, who u
virtue OF their membership say to the i
orld, we are satisfied for life. Statistics n
rther show Patriarchies numbering A.
asst Grand Masters councils NUMBERING
, Households of Ruth ass, Subordi rate
)dgeS 2S2S - at least 1000 of the lottnrl